Wednesday, 30 September 2009

Eccentric billionaire Shira Brazille founded the super exclusive Alpha Academy on exotic Alpha Island to nurture the next generation of exceptional dancers, writers, musicians, and inventors. It's a dream come true for one hundred lucky girls, but those not measuring up will be sent home at any time for any reason. The one left standing will win worldwide fame. Who will it be?

Sky Hamilton

Known for her dance moves and ability to make superfast connections with boys, Sky plans on taking the Alphas by storm - and lip-kissing all five of Shira's superhot sons.

Allie A. Abbot

Is one little initial away from superstardom. So when Allie J. Abbot's invitation to Alpha Academy arrives on her doorstep, she does what any crafty girl would: commits identity theft. Can she keep up the charade?

Charlie Deery

Beta-for-life Charlie is offered a last-minute place at the Academy, but there's an admission condition: dumping her boyfriend - Shira's son. It's hard to claw her way up when ninety-nine girls are waiting to sink their claws into her superhawt ex....

If at first you don't succeed, you're not an alpha.

So, I loved this book. I knew that it was going to be about Sky Hamilton - a girl we met in one of the Clique books (can't remember which) but didn't really know that much about. So, the girl on the front cover: I'm guessing that it's Sky. I'm also predicting that the next book in the series will have either Allie or Charlie on the cover (or Triple Threat (a.k.a Andrea) on it. You meet her in the book.) Sort of like the Pretty Little Liars series, the whole character on the cover thing.

The whole thing was fantastic, and well written. I literally started reading the book and only put it down once to eat dinner - and even then I had to finish the chapter. I shoveled down my dinner and was rewarded with a stomach ache after, but it was worth it. I had to know what happened.

I love Charlie. I absolutely hated Shira for making her dump Darwin - that's her son's name, the one she made Charlie dump. I thought that it was really stupid. Darwin loved Charlie, and when she dumped him she broke his heart.

The academy itself is really high-tech. Like, into-the-future stuff. I won't go into detail; you'll read about it if you read the book.

I can't really tell you much more about the book without spoiling it, but I can tell you this: it's drama-packed and the cliffhanger at the end made me want to throw the book against the wall in frustration because the 2nd book isn't out until April 2010.

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

SPOILER WARNING: I probably won't put any spoilers for Catching Fire in the review, but if you haven't read the first book, The Hunger Games, then I suggest not reading beyond this point, even the summary spoils the hell out of the first book.

(That is the UK cover, just so you know)

Title: Catching FireAuthor: Suzanne CollinsSummary: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Okay, so I absolutely adored The Hunger Games and I was a little worried that Catching Fire wouldn't be able to live up to the expectations that the first book set, but honestly, it did and so much more - it was fantastic.

I love the characters in this book so much that it's not even funny; Peeta, Gale, Katniss, Cinna and the new characters; Finnick, Mags and Wiress are my favourites - they're just all so awesome, and there was a certain part of the book involving Cinna that would've had me bawling my eyes out had I not been in a room full of people while reading it (if you've read it, or when you read it, you'll know the bit I mean).

The thing I love most about this book is that it kept surprising me by making me change my mind about something - after the first book, I was very firmly *Team Peeta* but there was a certain part of this book that just made me adore Gale too and throughout the book I kept switching back and forth between the two, trying to figure out who I loved more and who I want her with and I'm still torn, there's only one other book series that has had me this torn and that is Vampire Academy (in which I'm torn between Adrien and Dimitri).

I can't wait to read the next book and I'm terrified to read it too, because there is one thing I want to definitely happen and it'll be devestating if it doesn't (again, if you've read CF or when you read it, you'll know what I mean by this - Peeta related).

I'll wrap this review up now, I loved the book - if I was to give it marks out of 10, I'd want to give it 20.

Oh, one more thing (which is probably totally old news now, but just incase you don't know), apparently The Hunger Games is being made into a movie and Suzanne is writing/helping write (not sure which) the screenplay for it... awesome isn't it? :]

Later.

P.s. Once again, sorry for the lack of reviews recently - I haven't been reading much (reading funk + new puppies = *facepalm*) and I think some of the other reviewers have just been really busy too... once I start reading more often again, I will be reviewing more.

Monday, 14 September 2009

Sorry, I think we missed a day or so. I've been so busy; I haven't been reading much at all! :(

But, I did get a book I meant to post about, so I'll do that now:

Title: Sweeney Todd, or, The String of PearlsAuthor: Anonymous.

Summary:A distraught Johanna Oakley wanders the streets of London seeking news of her missing fiance, Mark Ingestrie. She is befriended by Colonel Jeffrey, who is searching for his lost friend Thornhill, last seen in Sweeney Todd’s Fleet Street barber-shop. Todd’s apprentice, Tobias Ragg, is struggling to break free from his terrifying and sadistic master, while the barber himself is frantically trying to sell a string of pearls. Meanwhile, just around the corner in Bell Yard, the enigmatic Jarvis Williams has landed himself a fine job — making the most delicious pies in London, to Mrs Lovett’s secret recipe…

Omgoshsquealllll.

I have been waiting for this book for ages. I had to buy it off of Amazon because it went out of print here in the U.S. in like 2005. Either that or the libraries and bookstores here just decided not to carry it. :( BUT it was way cheap on Amazon anyway.Anyway, this is the original story that inspired the production of Sweeney Todd in play form. I'm only a bit into it (I've put off reading City of Bones for this. =P) and it's already so different from the play and the movie.

No one really knows who wrote it, some say Thomas Prest, but that remains unproven. In fact, this book was penned by more than perhaps ten authors, with distinct changes between styles. So far it's a good read, written in old english and the narrator almost speaks to the reader, which makes me feel involved in the story. (:

I love anything to do with Sweeney Todd (actually I'd say I have a mildly unhealthy obsession with it) so I'm sure I'll love this. Once I finish, I'll review it here and continue with City of Bones.

Tuesday, 8 September 2009

This is the newest book in theVampire Academy series, so if you haven't read the others then you maybe shouldn't read this, my review isn't very spoiler-ish but the summary of the book spoils the previous ones.Title: Blood PromiseAuthor: Richelle MeadSummary:How far will Rose go to keep her promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was the deadliest ever in the school's history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.

He'd rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa - the one she has sworn to protect no matter what - and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

This is the fourth book in the Vampire Academy series and, just like the others in the series, I loved it. I really didn't have the faintest clue of what would happen in this book, or even what I wanted to happen but it definitely didn't disappoint.

Rose really is one of my favourite fictional characters, she manages to be totally awesome without falling into the Mary Sue catagory and I love how strong she is and how real her personality is... actually, that's the same for all the characters in the books, Richelle writes characters really well.

I really can't wait for the next book, I honestly am completely torn over what I want to happen... I absolutely adore two of the guys in this--Adrien and Dimitri--and I would love Rose to end up with either of them, I'm really looking forward to seeing where Richelle takes the story in the next book, with this series, I can never really guess what is going to happen, my mind is just blank when I try (which is rare for me) and I love that about these books.

Another thing I want to mention that is awesome about this series is the whole bond thing that Rose and Lissa have -- it's great, it was really interesting in the other books but in this book in particular, I loved that aspect of the story, because even though Rose wasn't at the Academy in person, we still got to see what was going on with Lissa, Adrien and Christian.

Basically, I really love this series and this one was just as good as the others were, you should read it.

Sorry if this review is awful, my new puppy was demanding attention while I tried to write it *facepalm* and so to make up for my terrible reviewing skills, heres an awesome fan video I found for this book on youtube (although, I don't recommend watching it unless you've read this series, it is a bit spoiler-ish for Shadow Kiss and Blood Promise)

[Again, please note, I said the trailer is FAN made... last time I included a fanvid at the end of a review, one of the commenters got a little annoyed, thinking I was claiming it was the real trailer]

Tuesday, 1 September 2009

I haven't read all of the 131 books - not including the specials, etc. This series made me absolutely love reading. I got a huge box of the books for Christmas one year. If I have an urge, I'll pick up one of the books and read it, taking my walk down memory lane.

The entire series would take forever and a day to review, so this is the overall review.

Title: The Babysitters ClubAuthor: Ann M. Martin

This series is pretty amazing. They're like mini-Nancy Drew's, except they baby-sit too. Eventually there are more members added to the club, which makes it even better.

The situations they get themselves into (they're only 13-14 years old) can sometimes make your heart race. Some of the situations are freaky, and some you might want to roll your eyes and scream, "Don't act childish!" or something.

I absolutely love Claudia. She has her own fashion sense, she's pretty, she's kind, and she can take charge when she needs too. I'd definitely hire her to baby-sit my future kids if she existed!

Boy Crazy Stacy was my favourite (still is too.) It made me laugh and roll my eyes. It's funny and romantic all at once.

These books made me love reading. They honestly did. If I had every single book in the series, I'd probably re-read them over and over again. :)